Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Law: Mesothelioma and You
Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer. The only known cause of Mesothelioma in the United States is from asbestos exposure. It takes from 10-50 years after the first exposure to asbestos for a person to develop Mesothelioma. People who work directly with asbestos such as insulators, shipyard, refinery, construction and utility workers, military personnel and others are at risk for developing Mesothelioma. Other people at risk are housewives, children, school teachers, and others who are indirectly exposed. Short term, intense exposure may cause Mesothelioma many years later. It is important to determine if and how you were exposed to asbestos.
MEDICAL OPTIONS:
Presently there is no cure for malignant Mesothelioma. However, there are treatments that may improve the quality and quantity of life for people with Mesothelioma. Some of the treatments are:
1. Chemotherapy;
2. Radiation Therapy;
3. Surgery: Pleurectomy (removal of the pleura) and extrapleural pneumonectomy (removal of the pleura, lung, pericardium and diaphragm);
4. Palliative Therapy: Treatment of symptoms such as shortness of breath and pain;
5. Experimental Therapies such as photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy.
OTHER ASBESTOS RELATED DISEASES:
The following cancerous diseases are caused by asbestos exposure:
Lung Cancer: Cancer of the lung and air passages. Cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer by 50-90 times
Gastrointestinal Cancers: Evidence has shown the connection between asbestos exposure and development of colon/rectal cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer and other forms of cancer.
The following are non-cancerous diseases caused by asbestos exposure:
Asbestosis: Scarring of the lung tissue which may impair lung function and will eventually cause death. Symptoms and shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and clubbing of the fingers.
Pleural Plaques and Thickening: Scarring of the lining of the lung which may decrease breathing capacity.
If you have been diagnosed with malignant Mesothelioma (or any other disease caused by asbestos exposure) you may have legal rights to sue the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of the asbestos products for your injuries. Also, you may have the legal right to sue the contractors who installed and/or remove asbestos products as well as your employer. In many situations, the estate of a deceased person may bring a lawsuit for personal injuries or wrongful death. Be aware that each state has a time period, known as the statute of limitations, within which a person or the estate of the deceased person must file a lawsuit to be entitled to monetary compensation or be forever barred from any recovery. Each state has its own law regarding the time in which to file a lawsuit and those laws are strictly enforced.
You should immediately consult with an experienced attorney at the Law Firm of Reiff and Bily if you or a loved one has been exposed to, diagnosed with, or has died as the result of exposure to asbestos and Mesothelioma
